Category Archives: Traveling

Besides SQL there are vacations… nice time spent with family and friends. I want to blog about one of ours and give you a hint where to go next time you think about traveling. This year, we again visited Sardinia. The third year in Sardinia calls for a post 🙂

OK… so we have a good motivation to go there as my mother/father-in-law moved there some years ago, but… it is really a good destination to peak for a wonderful vacation. We tried them all: as a couple – just us first time, two years after that with some close friends, and two another years after that with some other close friends but with kids attached to us this time 🙂

All of the cases have been just fabulous vacations, with new things to do there and visit. I guess it is known that the sea in Sardinia is very clean having all sorts of colours from blue to turquoise, and has different sort of beaches to peak from: sandy from very smooth to not so smooth (the sand that does not stick to your skin when you are wet), rocky, with mountains behind them, red sand and so on…

Of course it is difficult to cover all of them and still keep the vacation air of relaxation. Even us after 3 vacations spent there, still have other parts of Sardinia to go to. We explored a big part from east side, some of the center side, little of the south and the west only from the car this year traveling from airport to our destination.

All the times we stayed in Orosei – a small village, 90 km from Olbia (the island port). I would not recommend this village for a tourist as it is not so full of attractions being a small village, but for us it was the good destination having the relatives there as well. The first and the second time we came with our car from Romania to Sardinia, early booked tickets to the fairy from Livorno to Olbia (first time) and from (Piombino to Olbia). These are quite expensive. You can book them using www.aferry.com.

The third time we flied to Alghero airport directly from Romania but we had a car borrowed to us. What I really wanted to say is that all the times we had a car at our end. It is very important as the distances are not big but if you really want to see the island a car is what you need. There are comapnies that let you rent cars, even in Orosei there was one 🙂

Enough talking, I will rather start uploading pictures and describe the locations from them.

Orosei (part 1)

A small village with a very nice beach with sand that does not stick to your skin (see down right picture) and you could get to Osala beach (see the middle and up left pictures) quite easy as it is very near. Because there are rocks inside the water, you can see different species of small and medium fish.

Road to Osini

It was one good morning when we agreed to drive two guys to their family in Osini. Google said it was 120 km done in 2 hours. Very nice. Except….
It didn’t consider the excessive steep, narrow curves and the fact that some roads where vanished due to current landslides, and that we had to search for alternative paths to get there, path that didn’t exist on our GPS. It was a adventure… quite dangerous one. We did 4-5 hours towards Osini and 4 hours back to Orosei. Still we don’t regret anything from this exciting journey. From a certain point we just kept climbing and for one hour we didn’t descend at all, so when we saw the mark to “monte Olinie 1372 m” we had a good laugh. We saw road signs that were shot (later we found out it is for fun) Sardinians pigs, cows sitting on probably the highest hill for a cow to be… just wandering there, a crystal water and a rocky-sandy beach, and the most interesting story about a city shattered by flood and another one a little bit higher reconstructed as its clone. You could see them both from the road as magnets fixed to the mountain.

Orosei (part 2)

Second time when we came we tried to explore the very extended beach in front of Stagno Petrosu lake (Pond Petrosu in english) very close to Orosei. We almost stuck in the sand with the car due to the fact that we didn’t estimate the depth of it very good and wanted to get as closer to the beach as possible. Two man saw the deep problem we were in and helped drag the car out of it :))

We wanted to see the sun rise from sea in Orosei, but it came behind a mountain, due to the golf shape but anyway… we had our share of pictures:

Admired the Sardinian flora & fauna:

Did some snorkeling again.

AND… did the most breathtaking boat trip through the Orosei golf to explore cala Luna, cala Mariolu, cala Sisine, grotte del Fico, grotte del Bue Marino and its beach. It is really, without any exaggeration the most beautiful, like a fairy tail experience I have ever had on sea. Just watch:

La Caletta and Biderosa

One local man said we should go to La Caletta and Biderosa beaches. So we did but unfortunately I don’t have pictures from these places. I recommend though much more Biderosa for whole day stay, as there are 5 beaches to peak from, trees to hide from sun, and benches for picnic, and water… need I say more?

In conclusion, wonderful island with wonderful places!
Definitely a good vacation!

Since I received some emails from people wondering why I Didn’t post for some time…. may I excuse myself saying that from january 2012 a little boy is keeping me very busy and I really don’t have time for new posts. I am looking forward to begin writting again, and this will happen at the end of this year.

Thanks for your visits and comments. I really appreciate every one of them!

Zakopane (Poland) is mostly known for the winter sports and the great views while skiing or climbing the high Tatra mountains. Here where organized a lot of winter events like the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1929, 1939, and 1962; the winter Universiades in 1956, 1993, and 2001; the biathlon World Championship; several ski jumping world cups; and several Nordic combined, Nordic and Alpine European Cups. It hosted the Alpine World Ski Championships in 1939, the first outside the Alps and the last official world championships prior to World War II.

Most of tourists are keen to come here between December and February for winter holidays in order to ski. There are plenty of great ski trails and ski jumps, for beginners or as well for very experienced skiers.

But Zakopane is not perfect for a getaway only in winter time, it is perfect in spring time and summer time as well. I visited Zakopane in the middle of april, when the weather registered most high degrees at that period: 15/22 Celsius degrees. I can say I was fascinated by this little village at the south of Poland. The mountains are absolutely spectacular, covered in snow at most high peaks and green at their basis. There are a lot of unique places, forests, parks where you can loose yourself and spent the greatest vacation being surrounded by the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen.

Zakopane would certainly not be what it is if it was not so close to the Tatra which many consider the most beautiful mountains in the world. The Tatra Mountains are located in the middle of the massive arch of the Carpatians, the mountains which spread over a distance of more than a thousand kilometres and pass through a few Slavic countries. The Tatra are the highest part of the Carpathian arch.
The Highest peak is Gerlach (2,654m over the sea level ) – located on Slovac side. On the Polish side the highest peak is Rysy (2,499 m). I will highlight top excursions that can be done in Zakopane and around it.

1. Kasprowy Wierch – cable car (half a day)

The highest peak which can be visited by cable-car is Kasprowy Wierch (1,987 m), very popular among tourists. The mountain delineates the border between Poland and the Slovak Republic and it is possible to cross the border of each country, weather permitting. As both countries are part of the Schengen zone, it is not controlled or forbidden. Kasprowy Wierch is also known as the best place in Poland for advanced skiers and snowboarders. At this period of the year (april) it is still possible to ski.

Tatra mountains

Kasprowy Wierch peak

Kasprowy Wierch - meteorological observatory

Kasprowy Wierch

Kasprowy Wierch

Kasprowy Wierch

Kasprowy Wierch - a view on Tatra mountain chain

Kasprowy Wierch - a view from the cable car

2. Morskie Oko (one day)

One of the most popular destinations in the vicinity of Zakopane is Morskie Oko. It is the largest lake in the mountains at a distance of about 25 km from Zakopane. You can start your trip by car or bus from Zakopane to Lysa Polana. At Lysa Polana, however you have to park the car and the remaining 8 km make it on foot or horse-drawn carriage. This place owes its popularity for the incredible views over Tatra mountains. The most captivating peak is Mnich, which literally means ‘the Monk’. It is called thus as its sharply pointed peak resembles that of a monks habit.

Morskie Oko

Morskie Oko

Morskie Oko

Morskie Oko

3. Zakopane walks

It is very relaxing to walk by Zakopane streets when there is no crowd. In April, there where few tourists and it was just as I needed after a year of busy days. The streets, beginning with the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane – Krupowki street are surrounded with so many temptations that you don’t know what to buy first. There are a lot of shops and restaurants. I, personally don’t like to spend money on little souvenirs, as these don’t have real usage for me. As an alternative, I suggest to spend each evening in a new restaurant. Let’s say that I come form Romania where the cooking art is highly appreciated. But I have never tasted a better steak of any kind (chicken, pork, lamb) in my life. I am so in love with the polish “shashlik” that I will most surely come back again to the same place and repeat the experience.

Zakopane

Zakopane - Krupowki street

Zakopane - Krupowki street

Zakopane - here I ate the best steak from my life

Zakopane - cheese specialities

Zakopane - Sabala restaurant, very popular in Zakopane

Zakopane - Krupowki street

Zakopane - Church on Krupowki street

4. Krakow (one day)

Krakow is the second most important city in Poland. Situated in the southeast of the country, between the Tatra Mountains, right on the Wisla (Vistula) River, has one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe.There are dozens of churches that cover almost every architectural period and are surrounded by monasteries and abbeys. Krakow is surely a must see city, because it can be seen as a testimony of a bygone era. Points of interest: Rynek Glowni and Wawel (cathedral, university, museum & royal palace) which was also the former residence of polish kings.

Krakow - Wawel the Royal Castel from the outside

Krakow - Wawel the Royal Castel from the outside

Krakow - Wawel the Royal Castel from the outside

Krakow - Wawel the Royal Castel from the inside

5. Extreme adventures (ATV & Rafting)

Now the fun begins. For the ATV freaks there are many ATV companies that organize excursion around Zakopane, for beginners and for experimented ATV – riders. You will get dirty, but you will be so happy 🙂

Also, rafting is possible in summer time on Dunajec river. You can go with a wooden boat which in my opinion is not as fun as the real rafting with inflatable boats, as there are no waves or sharp descents.

I didn’t have the chance to do any of these because it was still cold for getting wet and dirty.

I will start the travelling category with a unique place located here where I live: in Romania. A beautiful and breath taking panorama situated at 2042 m altitude.

In order to reach this place you don’t have to be a trained mountain climber. Pack the bags, with a few friends, find a car and start the adventure. There is an actual road, a paved road that goes across the mountain peak from one side to another like a meander. Many tourists from all over the world come to see this place each year in the summer time. It is worth spending at least 3 days here and enjoying the sides.

It is called: Transfagarashan. It lies two historical romanian regions: Muntenia and Transilvania.

The road is not opened entirely to tourists all the year because of the bad weather and snow. This is reachable by car only in July – October period each year. At the top you will find the “Balea Lac” a lake inside the heart of the mountains with a splendid view over the Fagaras mountains – the highest mountain chain from Romania which is part of Meridional Carpatians mountains.

In winter time, basically between 1 november and 30 June the sector between km 104 (“Piscul Negru”) and 130 km (“cabana Balea Cascada”), is closed to road traffic and you can there only by cable car from “cabana Balea Cascada”. Near “Balea” Lake in the south -est there is another lake “Capra” to which one can get only following a mountain route.

Portion of the road closed in winter time

Glacial Lake "Capra" at 2230 m altitude

A view on the meander

Lake "Balea" at the top of "Transfagarashan" road - at 2000 m altitude

I started my blog in the will of expanding and enhancing my acquired knowledge over the past 5 years since I am working with SQL Servers as a Database Administrator. Also, if some of the information presented here serve as help, point to start a discussion to some of you, I will be happy to enter in touch with my readers through comments, questions.

This blog is designed for DBA’s or technicaly interested people in DBA work. Here you will find a little portion of the problems/daily work/solutions which I hope you will find usefull and interesting.

About me…

I am from Bucharest, Romania and I am working with SQL Servers since 2006. I have been working closely with all SQL versions starting with SQL Server 2000. I am a senior DBA at OpenSky company and spend my free time with my husband and my son.
See more about me and why I started this blog.